Statistical information Syria 1999

Syria in the World
Syria - Introduction 1999
top of pageBackground: Following the breakup of the Ottoman Empire during World War I Syria was administered by the French until independence in 1946. In the 1967 Arab-Israeli War Syria lost the Golan Heights to Israel. Since 1976 Syrian troops have been stationed in Lebanon ostensibly in a peacekeeping capacity. Talks with Israel over the return of the Golan Heights have recently been revived.
top of pageLocation: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon and Turkey
Geographic coordinates: 35 00 N, 38 00 E
Map reference:
Middle EastAreaTotal: 185,180 km²
Land: 184,050 km²
Water: 1,130 km²
Note: includes 1,295 km² of Israeli-occupied territory
Comparative: slightly larger than North Dakota
Land boundariesTotal: 2,253 km
Border countries: (5) Iraq 605 km;
, Israel 76 km;
, Jordan 375 km;
, Lebanon 375 km;
, Turkey 822 kmCoastline: 193 km
Maritime claimsContiguous zone: 41 nm
Territorial sea: 35 nm
Climate: mostly desert; hot, dry, sunny summers (June to August) and mild, rainy winters (December to February) along coast; cold weather with snow or sleet periodically hitting Damascus
Terrain: primarily semiarid and desert plateau; narrow coastal plain; mountains in west
ElevationExtremes lowest point: unnamed location near Lake Tiberias -200 m
Extremes highest point: Mount Hermon 2,814 m
Natural resources: petroleum, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores, asphalt, iron ore, rock salt, marble, gypsum
Land useArable land: 28%
Permanent crops: 4%
Permanent pastures: 43%
Forests and woodland: 3%
Other: 22% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 9,060 km² (1993 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: dust storms, sandstorms
GeographyNote: there are 42 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights (August 1998 est.)
top of pagePopulation: 17,213,871 (July 1999 est.)
Note: in addition, there are about 37,200 people living in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights_18,200 Arabs (16,500 Druze and 1,700 Alawites) and about 19,000 Israeli settlers (August 1998 est.)
Growth rate: 3.15% (1999 est.)
Below poverty line: 15%-25%
NationalityNoun: Syrian(s)
Adjective: Syrian
Ethnic groups: Arab 90.3%, Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7%
Languages: Arabic (official; Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian widely understood; French, English somewhat understood
Religions: Sunni Muslim 74%, Alawite, Druze, and other Muslim sects 16%, Christian (various sects) 10%, Jewish (tiny communities in Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo)
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: 46% (male 4,032,620; female 3,840,431)
15-64 years: 51% (male 4,515,274; female 4,322,415)
65 years and over: 3% (male 246,812; female 256,319) (1999 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 3.15% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 36.95 births/1000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.4 deaths/1000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1999 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution from dumping of raw sewage and wastes from petroleum refining; inadequate supplies of potable water
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
International agreements signed but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 36.42 deaths/1000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 68.09 years
Male: 66.75 years
Female: 69.48 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.37 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 70.8%
Male: 85.7%
Female: 55.8% (1997 est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Syrian Arab Republic
Conventional short form: Syria
Local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Arabiyah as Suriyah
Local short form: Suriyah
Former: United Arab Republic (with Egypt)
Government type: republic under military regime since March 1963
Capital: Damascus
Administrative divisions: 14 provinces (muhafazat, singular_muhafazah; Al Hasakah, Al Ladhiqiyah, Al Qunaytirah, Ar Raqqah, As Suwayda', Dar'a, Dayr az Zawr, Dimashq, Halab, Hamah, Hims, Idlib, Rif Dimashq, Tartus
Dependent areasIndependence: 17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration)
National holiday: National Day, 17 April (1946)
Constitution: 13 March 1973
Legal system: based on Islamic law and civil law system; special religious courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branchChief of state: President Hafiz al-ASAD (since 22 February 1971); note_President ASAD seized power in the November 1970 coup, assumed presidential powers 22 February 1971, and was confirmed as president in the 12 March 1971 national elections; Vice Presidents 'Abd al-Halim ibn Said KHADDAM (since 11 March 1984) and Muhammad Zuhayr MASHARIQA (since 11 March 1984)
Head of government: Prime Minister Mahmud ZUBI (since 1 November 1987), Deputy Prime Ministers Lt. Gen. Mustafa TALAS (since 11 March 1984), Dr. Salim YASIN (since NA December 1981), and Rashid AKHTARINI (since 4 July 1992)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; referendum/election last held 8 February 1999 (next to be held NA 2006); vice presidents appointed by the president; prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president
Election results: Hafiz al-ASAD reelected president; percent of vote_Hafiz al-ASAD 99%
Legislative branch: unicameral People's Council or Majlis al-shaab (250 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
Elections: last held 30 November-1 December 1998 (next to be held NA 2002)
Election results: percent of vote by party_NPF 67%, non-NPF 33%; seats by party_NPF 167, independents 83; note_the constitution guarantees that the Ba'th Party (part of the NPF alliance) receive one-half of the seats
Judicial branch: Supreme Constitutional Court, justices are appointed for four-year terms by the president; High Judicial Council; Court of Cassation; State Security Courts
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Walid MUALEM
In the us chancery: 2,215 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 232-6,313
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 234-9,548
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Ryan CROCKER
From the us embassy: Abou Roumaneh, Al-Mansur Street, No. 2, Damascus
From the us mailing address: P. O. Box 29, Damascus
From the us telephone: [963] (11) 333-2,814, 333-0788, 332-0783
From the us FAX: [963] (11) 224-7,938
Flag description
: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with two small green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band and of Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt, which has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: Syria's predominantly statist economy is on a shaky footing because of Damascus's failure to implement extensive economic reform. The dominant agricultural sector remains underdeveloped, with roughly 80% of agricultural land still dependent on rain-fed sources. Although Syria has sufficient water supplies in the aggregate at normal levels of precipitation, the great distance between major water supplies and population centers poses serious distribution problems. The water problem is exacerbated by rapid population growth, industrial expansion, and increased water pollution. Private investment is critical to the modernization of the agricultural, energy, and export sectors. Oil production is leveling off, and the efforts of the nonoil sector to penetrate international markets have fallen short. Syria's inadequate infrastructure, outmoded technological base, and weak educational system make it vulnerable to future shocks and hamper competition with neighbors such as Jordan and Israel.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 2% (1998 est.)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $2,500 (1998 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 26%
Industry: 21%
Services: 53% (1997)
Agriculture products: wheat, barley, cotton, lentils, chickpeas, olives, sugar beets; beef, mutton, eggs, poultry, milk
Industries: petroleum, textiles, food processing, beverages, tobacco, phosphate rock mining
Industrial production growth rate: 0.2% (1996 est.)
Labor force: 4.7 million (1998 est.)
By occupation services: 40%
By occupation agriculture: 40%
By occupation industry: 20% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate: 12%-15% (1998 est.)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty line: 15%-25%
Gini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $3.5 billion
Expenditures: $4.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $N/A (1997 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $4.2 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Commodities: petroleum 65%, textiles 16%, food and live animals 13%, manufactures 6% (1997 est.)
Partners: Italy 18%, Germany 13%, France 12%, Turkey 10%, Lebanon 7%, Spain 6% (1997 est.)
Imports: $5.7 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
Commodities: machinery and equipment 40%, foodstuffs/animals 15%, metal and metal products 15%, textiles 10%, chemicals 10%, consumer goods 5% (1997 est.)
Partners: Ukraine 14%, Italy 7%, Germany 6%, Turkey 5%, France 4%, South Korea 4%, Japan 4%, US 3% (1997 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $22 billion (1998 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Syrian pounds (£S) per US$1_46 (1998), 41.9 (January 1997; official fixed rate 11.225
top of pageElectricityProduction: 19.3 billion kWh (1996)
Production by source fossil fuel: 63.73%
Production by source hydro: 36.27%
Production by source nuclear: 0%
Production by source other: 0% (1996)
Consumption: 19.3 billion kWh (1996)
Exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Imports: 0 kWh (1996)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitaSyria - Communication 1999
top of pageTelephones: 541,465 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: fair system currently undergoing significant improvement and digital upgrades, including fiber-optic technology
Domestic: coaxial cable and microwave radio relay network
International: satellite earth stations_1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region); 1 submarine cable; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey; participant in Medarabtel
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $800 million-$1 billion (1997 est.), note_based on official budget data that understate actual spending
Percent of gdp: 8% (1995 est.)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupsSyria - Transportation 1999
top of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 104 (1998 est.)
With paved runways total: 24
With paved runways over 3047 m: 5
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 16
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1
With paved runways under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 80
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 3
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 14
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 63 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1998 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 1,304 km; petroleum products 515 km
RailwaysTotal: 1,998 km
Broad gauge: 1,766 km 1.435-m gauge
Narrow gauge: 232 km 1.050-m gauge
RoadwaysWaterways: 870 km; minimal economic importance
Merchant marineTotal: 131 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 401,407 GRT/578,081 DWT
Ships by type: bulk 11, cargo 115, livestock carrier 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1998 est.)
Ports and terminalsSyria - Transnational issues 1999
top of pageDisputes international: Golan Heights is Israeli occupied; dispute with upstream riparian Turkey over Turkish water development plans for the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers; Syrian troops in northern, central, and eastern Lebanon since October 1976
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs: a transit point for opiates and hashish bound for regional and Western markets